Method and apparatus for interactive replacement of character faces in a video device

ABSTRACT

Systems and processes are provided for interactive reassignment of character faces in an audio video program including receiving, via an audio video input, an audio video program, receiving, via a user interface, a request to substitute an original character face within the audio video program with an alternative character face, delaying, using a buffer, the audio video program to generate a delayed audio video program, detecting, with a processor, an occurrence of the original character face within the audio video program, the processor being further operative for replacing an image of the original character face in the delayed audio video program with an image of the alternative character face to generate a modified delayed audio video program and coupling the modified delayed audio video program to a display and loudspeaker.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following discussion generally relates to real time editing of audiovideo programming on an electronic device. More particularly, thefollowing discussion relates to receiving a user input from a userindicative of an alternate character face in an audio video program. Thesystem and method are then operative to replace the original characterface with the alternate character face during playback of the audiovideo program to the user.

BACKGROUND

The real time presentation of audio video programs, such as viabroadcast television, has been an entertainment staple for the betterpart of a century. Early television broadcast stations transmittedprograming during only a portion of the 24 day, often ceasingtransmission during the overnight hours, and the received programmingwas immediately displayed to the viewer without opportunity to delay,save or customize the home viewing experience. Currently, audio videoprogramming may be received via over the air broadcast, cable networks,satellite retransmission, streaming via the internet or other networkconnection, or may be delivered via a media storage device, such as adigital video disk, or video tape.

In some instances, broadcast audio video content may be edited by abroadcast before transmission. For example, expletives may be muted oredited before transmission so they are not presented to viewers duringplayback on the user device, such as a television or set top box.However, during playback of a received audio video program, user maywish to edit content within the audio video program to suit theirindividual tastes or requirements before the content is presented. Tosatisfied these requirements, it would be desirable to facilitate aviewer desire to substitute original content with preferred content atthe display device. Other desirable features and characteristics willbecome apparent from the subsequent detailed description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings andthis background section.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are human machine interface methods and systems andrelated circuitry for provisioning computational systems, methods formaking and methods for operating such systems, and system equipped withonboard control systems. By way of example, and not limitation,presented are various embodiments of character image substitution duringplayback of an audio video program in a video device are disclosedherein.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a method includingreceiving an audio video program, receiving a request to substitute anoriginal character face within the audio video program with analternative character face, delaying the audio video program to generatea delayed audio video program, detecting an occurrence of the originalcharacter face within the audio video program, replacing the occurrenceof the original character face in the delayed audio video program withan image of the alternative character face to generate a modifieddelayed audio video program, and coupling the modified delayed audiovideo program to a display and loudspeaker.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein thealternative character face is computer generated in response to a userinput indicative of a characteristic of the alternative character name.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the requestto substitute an original character face within the audio video programwith the alternative character face is generated in response to a userrequest generated via a user interface.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein theoccurrence of the original character face is detected in response to afacial recognition algorithm.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the requestto substitute an original character face within the audio video programwith the alternative character face is generated in response to a userselection of the original character face and the alternative characterface via a graphical user interface presented on a display.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure where detecting theoccurrence of the original character face further includes determining aprogram time location corresponding to the occurrence of the originalcharacter face in the audio video program and where the program timelocation is used to replace the original character face in the delayedaudio video program with the alternate character face.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the requestto substitute the original character face within the audio video programwith the alternative character face is received in response to a userselection in a graphical user interface displayed on the display.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the image ofthe alternate character face is captured by a camera in response to therequest to substitute the original character face within the audio videoprogram with the alternative character face.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an apparatusincluding an input configured for receiving an audio video program, adisplay device configured to display a video portion of the audio videoprogram, a buffer for generating a delayed audio video program inresponse the audio video program, a processor operative to receive arequest to substitute an original character image in the audio videoprogram with an alternative character image, the processor being furtheroperative to detect an occurrence of the original character image withinthe audio video program and to replace the original character image inthe delayed audio video program with the alternative character image togenerate a modified delayed audio video program in response to detectingthe original character image within the audio video program and tocouple the modified delayed audio video program to the display device.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure a network interfacefor receiving a metadata associated with the audio video program.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the bufferis a memory configured to store a portion of the audio video program.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a user input forreceiving a user indication of the original character image and analternative character image.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein theprocessor is further operative to generate a graphical user interfacefor presenting a first character image and a second character imageassociated with the audio video program and an input for receiving analternate character input in response to a user input.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a camera forcapturing the alternative character image.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein theprocessor is configured to detect the occurrence of the originalcharacter image in response to a facial recognition operation on theaudio video program.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein the audiovideo program further includes metadata related to a characterassociated with the audio video program and wherein the processor isconfigured to detect the occurrence of the original character image inresponse to the metadata associated with the audio video program.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein thealternative character image is an image of a user captured by a camerain response to a user input.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein thealternate character image is one of a plurality of images stored in amemory and wherein the alternate character image is selected from theplurality of images in response to a user input.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus forinteractive reassignment of character faces in an audio video programincluding a tuner configured for receiving and demodulating a signal toextract the audio video program, a user input operative to receive auser request to substitute an original character face within the audiovideo program with an alternative character face, a memory configured tobuffer the audio video program to generate a delayed audio videoprogram, a processor configured to detect the original character facewithin the audio video program and to replace the original characterface with the alternative character name within the delayed audio videoprogram to generate a modified audio video program, and a displayconfigured to display the modified audio video program.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure wherein theprocessor is further operative to detect the original character face inresponse to a facial recognition process performed on the audio videoprogram.

The above advantage and other advantages and features of the presentdisclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an environment for interactive reassignment of characterimages in a video device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating a system for interactivereassignment of character images for a video device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for interactivereassignment of character images for a video device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating a system for interactivereassignment of character images according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for interactivereassignment of character images according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments ofthe disclosure, and such exemplifications are not to be construed aslimiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is intended to provide variousexamples, but it is not intended to limit the disclosure or theapplication and uses of the disclosure. Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any theory presented in the precedingbackground or the following detailed description.

The general concepts described herein may be implemented in any audiovideo display device or connected device that may be used for audiovideo streaming or presentation to an audio video display device thelike. For convenience of illustration, the following discussion oftenrefers to a video signal processing device, such as a television,operative to receive audio video content and to display the audio videocontent on a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) to a view.The actions taken in response to the presentation and alternation ofaudio video content for display to a viewer may also be associated withthe functionality of the mobile phones, portable electronicentertainment devices, and any other electronic media device capable ofimage or video display and/or playback. Additional details and examplesare provided in the following description.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an environment for a system 100 for interactivereassignment of character images in a video device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The exemplarysystem 100 may include a television 110 for presenting an audio videoprogram, a graphical user interface 112 for receiving an alternatecharacter image. In addition, the television may include an integratedcamera 150 for capturing an alternate character image. According to anexemplary embodiment, the television no may be operative for receiving,decoding and displaying an audio video program and displaying the audiovideo program to a viewer. In an exemplary embodiment, the alternatecharacter image may be an alternate character face wherein the face ofan original character in the audio video program is replaced by an imageor representation of a face provided or selected by a user.

In this exemplary embodiment, the television no is operative to receivean audio video program via an antenna 125 or the like. In one example,the antenna 125 may be operative to receive microwave satellitetransmission including the audio video program and may include a lownoise block amplifier and or decoding/demodulation circuitry and/orcomponentry. The antenna 125 may couple the received audio video programvia a cable 130, or the like, to the television 110. In one exemplaryembodiment, the audio video program may be coupled from the antenna 125to a set top box (not shown) for additional processing before aprocessed audio video program is coupled from the set top box to thetelevision 110. In one exemplary embodiment, the audio video program mayfurther include metadata or the like including information related tothe audio video program, such as description, title, run time, characternames, geographical locations, etc. In addition, the metadata mayinclude one or more character images associated with each of thecharacter names.

Further in this exemplary embodiment, the television no may includecircuitry, processors, or the like, to enable a graphical user interface112 to be displayed on the television 110. The graphical user interface112 may be enabled to allow a user to reassign an original characterimage, or original character face, within the audio video program withan alternate character image or alternate character face. For example,the television 110 may be operative to receive a control signal from auser input device, such as a remote control, indicating a user desire toactivate the graphical user interface 112. The television 110 may thendisplay the graphical user interface 112 in response to the controlsignal. The user may then be operative to provide input via a userinput, such as a remote control, in order to select an originalcharacter face for replacement and an alternate character face to beused as the replacement.

In the exemplary system, it may be desirable for a viewer or user toreplace a face of a character in an audio video program with analternate face. For example, the user may wish to replace the face of anoriginal character with a user's own face captured via the userinterface 112 and the camera 150. The exemplary system may be operativeto receive an indication from a user to perform the face replacementprocess via a user input or the like. The system may then be operativeto receive an alternate face image via the camera 150 or from a memoryin response to a menu selection wherein the user may select an imagefrom one or more images stored in the memory. The exemplary system maythen delay the audio video program to generate a delayed audio videoprogram, perform a facial recognition process on the undelayed audiovideo program to locate an occurrence of the original character face,replace the original character face with the alternate character face inthe delayed audio video program to generate a modified delayed audiovideo program, and then display the modified delayed audio video programto the user having the original character face replaced by the alternatecharacter face.

In one exemplary embodiment, the graphical user interface 112 may beoperative to be initiated in response to a user input, such as a buttonpush on a remote control or a menu selection. The graphical userinterface may then be operative to receive a video signal from thecamera 150 or the like. A facial recognition algorithm may be performedon the video signal from the camera 150 to determine if a face has beendetected within the video signal. For example, the video signal from thecamera 150 may be overlaid on an audio video program currently beingdisplayed on the television 110. The user may then position themselvesin front of the camera 150 such that their face is displayed in thevideo signal displayed on the graphical user interface 112. The facialrecognition algorithm may then be operative to detect the face withinthe video signal and to capture one or more images of the face. Theexemplary system may then be operative to replace an original characterface within the audio video program with the one or more capturedimages. The system may further be operative to generate a compositethree dimensional face image from the one or more captured images inorder to provide an alternate face image that may be rotated to matchthe orientation of the original character face.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a system 200 for interactive reassignment ofcharacter faces in a video device according to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure is shown. The system 200 may include anaudio/video input 205, an audio/video decoder 210, a processor 220, anetwork interface 215, user input 230, display 225, camera 227, and amemory 240. The audio/video input 205 is operative to receive anaudio-visual program. The audio/video input 205 may include a radiofrequency or microwave tuner operative to receive a data representativeof an audio video program modulated on a radio frequency or microwavecarrier signal. Alternatively, the audio/video input 205 may be anetwork interface operative to receive data formatted for networktransport, such as TCP/IP and to extract the audio video program fromthe transport packets. The audio/video input 205 may be a cabletelevision tuner, or the like, operative to receive an ATSC, NTSC, orquadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal for transporting the audiovideo program. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal may be receivedvia a cable television network, or satellite television network, orantenna based network.

The audio/video decoder 210 may be operative to receive the signal fromthe audio/video input 205 and to decode the signal to generate an audiovideo signal in a format suitable for the processor 220. For example,the audio/video decoder 210 may be operative to demodulate the signalfrom the audio/video input to extract the audio video program and tocouple the audio video program to the processor 220. In an exemplaryembodiment, the audio/video decoder 210 may be further operative tocouple the audio video signal to an audio/video output for presentationon the video display 225 and speaker 227 or the like.

The processor 220 may be operative to receive the audio video signalfrom the audio/video input 205 and/or the audio/video decoder 210. Theprocessor 220 may then be operative to optionally further process theaudio video program and to couple the audio video program the speaker227 and/or the display 225. The processor may be further operative toreceive a request from the user input 230 requesting a character facechange be performed. In response to the request for a character facechange, the processor may be operative to initiate a character facechange algorithm including generating a delayed audio video program,initiating the camera 227 to capture the alternative character face, andperforming a facial recognition process on the audio video program inorder to detect an original character face within the audio videoprogram. Alternatively, the request for the character face change mayinclude an original character face and an alternate character face wherethe user directs that the original character face be replaced with thealternate character face in the video portion of the audio videoprogram.

In response to receiving the request for the character face change, theprocessor 220 may be operative to buffer the audio video signal withinthe memory 240 or other buffering means to generate a delayed audiovideo signal. The processor 220 may then be operative to monitor theoriginal, undelayed audio video program for occurrences of the originalcharacter face. The processor 220 may detect the original character faceusing image recognition or facial recognition algorithms on frames ofthe video portion of the undelayed audio video program. In response to adetection of the original character face in the undelayed audio videoprogram, the processor 220 may then replace the original character facewith an alternate character face as provided in response to a user inputto generate a modified delayed audio stream. The processor 220 may thenbe further operative to couple the modified delayed audio stream to thespeaker 227 and the display 225 for presentation to the user.

The network interface 230 is operative to transmit and receive data fromclient devices on a network. For example, the network interface 230 maybe part of a DVR and is operative to receive requests from one or moreclient devices on a network. The network interface 230 is then operativeto transmit a list of available programs, a requested program, athumbnail data file, or other information to a client device in responseto a request from the client device. The network interface 230 maycommunicate directly with the client device or may communicate via anetwork router on a wireless local area network, such as a Wi-Finetwork.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a method 300 for interactive reassignment ofcharacter faces in a video device according to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure is shown. The method is first operative toreceive 305 an audio video program via an antenna, video input, networkinterface or the like. The audio video program may be converted from afirst transport format, such as ATSC to a second format suitable fordisplay, such as baseband audio video or the like.

The method is next operative to display 310 the audio video program on avideo display and audio loudspeakers. At this point, the audio videoprogram is normally displayed and is not buffered by a character facesubstitution algorithm or the like. The display may be a video display,such as an LCD display wherein the processor performing the method isintegral to an electronic device including the video display, such as atelevision, smartphone, or the like. Alternatively, the display may be avideo output for coupling a baseband or similar signal to a displaydevice such as a computer monitor. In this exemplary embodiment, themethod may be performed by a processor integral to a set top box orcomputer and wherein the video signal is coupled from the set top box tothe computer monitor or the like via a cable or wireless connection.

The method is next operative to determine 315 if a request for characterface substitution has been received. The request may include thealternate character face selected by a user, the original face to bereplaced in the audio video program and may further include the timeduring the program after which the character face will be substitutedand may further include a stop time after which the character facesubstitution will cease. If no request is received, the method isoperative to continue to display 310 the audio video program. If arequest has been received, the method is next operative to delay 320 theaudio video program for a predetermined time duration. The time durationmay be determined in response to device design characteristics, such asprocessor speed, available memory and the like and should be long enoughto perform the character face substitution function on the audio videoprogram. In one exemplary embodiment, a memory buffer or the like may beused as first in-first out (FIFO) buffer to delay the video.

In an exemplary embodiment, the original character face to be replacedmay be selected in response to a character face currently displayed inthe undelayed audio video program at the time of a received user inputor may be selected in response to a menu selection where images ofcharacters within the audio video program are presented to a user. Theuser may then generate a user input representing a selection of acharacter using a device such as a remote control or the like.

The method is next operative to perform a facial recognition process onthe undelayed, or original, audio video stream in order to detect 325occurrences of the original face in the undelayed audio video stream. Inone exemplary embodiment, detections 325 of the original character facemay be performed by monitoring the undelayed audio video stream,detecting a face within an image from the undelayed audio video stream,isolating the face, detecting facial features within the isolated face,determining locations of facial features and then determining if theisolated face is the selected original character face in response to thelocation of the facial features. Alternatively, the facial recognitionalgorithm may use three-dimensional facial recognition techniquesdetermined over multiple image frames of the undelayed audio videostream or may use skin texture analysis to recognize patterns, lines andspots on the detected face. In addition, the method may use acombination of facial recognition techniques to detect the originalcharacter face.

If an occurrence of the original character face is detected 325 in theundelayed audio video stream, the method is next operative to replace330 the original character face in the delayed audio video stream withthe alternate character face. In an exemplary embodiment, the locationwithin the video frame as well as other physical characteristics, suchas size, orientation, etc., of the original character face may bedetermined from the undelayed audio video stream. The method is thenoperative to replace the original character face in the delayed audiovideo stream with the selected or provided alternate character face. Thealternate character face may include one or more images of the alternatecharacter face such that an alternate character face may be generatedhaving an appropriate orientation, size, and other physicalcharacteristics for replacing the original character face in the delayedaudio video stream. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the originalcharacter face in the delayed audio stream may be replaced with acomputer-generated version of the alternate character face.

In another exemplary embodiment, when the original character face isdetected within the undelayed audio video stream, a time indicator fromthe audio video program is retrieved to determine the start and end timeof the appearance of the original character face within the audio videostream. This start and end time may then be used to replace the originalcharacter face in the delayed audio video stream with the alternatecharacter face. In addition, this start and start time may be used todetermine a duration of the original character in order to guide acomputer generation of an alternative character face. Once the originalcharacter face is replaced by the alternate character face in thedelayed audio video stream to generate a modified delayed audio videostream, the modified delayed audio video stream is then presented 335 tothe viewer and/or user. The method is then operative to return todetecting the original character face in the undelayed audio videostream.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a system 400 for interactive reassignment ofcharacter faces in a video reproducing device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system 400 mayinclude an input 410, a processor 420, a display 430, a buffer 440, anetwork interface 450, and a user input 460.

The exemplary system 400 may include an input 410 configured to receivean audio video program. The audio video program may include a videoportion and an audio portion. In one exemplary embodiment, the input 410may be a tuner configured for receiving a radio frequency or microwavesignal and demodulating the signal to extract the audio video program.In one exemplary embodiment, the audio video program may includemetadata related to a character associated with the audio video program.In an additional exemplary embodiment, the audio video program mayinclude metadata related to a character associated with the audio videoprogram, such as closed captioning information, and wherein theprocessor 420 may be configured to detect the occurrence of the originalcharacter image in response to the metadata associated with the audiovideo program.

The exemplary system 400 may further include a display 430 configured todisplay a video portion of the audio video program. In one exemplaryembodiment, the display 430 is a television having an integral LCDdisplay and multiple speakers for recreating the audio video program fora viewer.

The exemplary system 400 may further include a buffer 440 for generatinga delayed audio video program in response the audio video program. Inone exemplary embodiment, the buffer 440 is a memory configured to storea portion of the audio video program. In another exemplary embodiment,the buffer 440 is a first in first out (FIFO) buffer used to temporarilystore portions of the audio video program, thereby providing a delaybetween a frame of the audio video program being stored in the buffer440 and the frame being output from the buffer 440.

The exemplary system 400 may further include a processor 420 operativeto receive a request to substitute an original character image in theaudio video program with an alternative character image. The processor420 may be further operative to detect an occurrence of the originalcharacter image within the audio video program and to replace theoriginal character image in the delayed audio video program with analternative character image to generate a modified delayed audio videoprogram. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor 420 may be configuredto detect the occurrence of the original character image in response toa facial recognition operation on the audio video program. In oneexemplary embodiment, the alternative character image may be receivedfrom a camera. In an additional embodiment, the camera is integral to atelevision device and the alternative character image is an image of atelevision viewer proximate to the television device. Alternatively, thealternative character image may be one of a plurality of images storedon a memory and the alternative character image may be selected by auser via the user input and/or a graphical user interface presented onthe display 430. The processor 420 may be further operative to couplethe modified delayed audio video program to the display 430. Theprocessor 420 may be further operative to generate a graphical userinterface for presentation on the display 430 for presenting a firstcharacter image and a second character image associated with the audiovideo program and an input for receiving an alternate character input inresponse to a user input.

The exemplary system 400 may further include a network interface 450 forreceiving a metadata associated with the audio video program. Inaddition, the network interface 450 may be operative to receive thealternative character image. In one embodiment, a user may generate arequest for a plurality of character images from a server accessed viathe network interface. The user may then select one of a receivedplurality of character images to be used as the alternative characterimage. In an exemplary embodiment, the alternate character image is oneof the plurality of character images stored in a memory and wherein thealternate character image is selected in response to a user input. Theexemplary system 400 may further include a user input 460 for receivinga user indication of the original character image and an alternativecharacter image.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a method 500 for interactive reassignment ofcharacter faces in an audio reproducing device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The method is firstoperative for receiving 510 an audio video program.

The method is next operative for receiving 520 a request to substitutean original character face within the audio video program with analternative character face. In an exemplary embodiment, the request tosubstitute an original character face within the audio video programwith the alternative character face is generated in response to a userrequest generated via a user interface. For example, the request tosubstitute an original character face within the audio video programwith the alternative character face may be generated in response to auser selection of the original character face and the alternativecharacter face via a graphical user interface presented on a display. Inone exemplary embodiment, the image of the alternate character face maybe captured by a camera in response to the request to substitute theoriginal character face within the audio video program with thealternative character face. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, thealternative character face may be computer generated in response to auser input indicative of a characteristic of the alternative charactername.

The method is next operative for delaying 530 the audio video program togenerate a delayed audio video program. The audio video program may bedelayed using a buffer memory, such as a FIFO buffer. In an alternativeembodiment, the method is operative to request from a service providerand receive a second version of the audio video program wherein thesecond version is time delayed from a first version of the audio videoprogram. The second version of the audio video program is then employedas the delayed audio video program.

The method is next operative for detecting 540 an occurrence of theoriginal character face within the audio video program. In an exemplaryembodiment, the occurrence of the original character face is detected inresponse to a facial recognition algorithm. Additionally, detecting theoccurrence of the original character face may include determining aprogram time location corresponding to the occurrence of the originalcharacter face in the audio video program and where the program timelocation is used to replace the original character face in the delayedaudio video program with the alternate character face

The method is next operative for replacing 550 the occurrence of theoriginal character face in the delayed audio video program with an imageof the alternative character face to generate a modified delayed audiovideo program. Finally, the method is then operative for coupling 560the modified delayed audio video program to a display.

The term “exemplary” is used herein to represent one example, instanceor illustration that may have any number of alternates. Anyimplementation described herein as “exemplary” should not necessarily beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Whileseveral exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoingdetailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number ofalternate but equivalent variations exist, and the examples presentedherein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, orconfiguration of the disclosure in any way. To the contrary, variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of the variousfeatures described herein without departing from the scope of the claimsand their legal equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, via anaudio/video input, a first version of an audio video program; receiving,via a user interface, a request to substitute an original character facewithin the first version of the audio video program with an alternativecharacter face, wherein the request includes a selection identifying thealternative character face from a plurality of alternative characterfaces; requesting, from a service provider, a second version of theaudio video program that is time delayed from the first version of theaudio video program; receiving, from the service provider, the secondversion of the audio video program simultaneously with the first versionof the audio video program; detecting, by a processor, an occurrence ofthe original character face within the first version of the audio videoprogram, wherein the occurrence of the original character face isdetermined over multiple image frames of the audio video stream using askin texture analysis to recognize at least one of a pattern, a line anda spot on the original character face; replacing by the processor, theoccurrence of the original character face in the second version of theaudio video program with an image of the alternative character face togenerate a modified audio video program that is time delayed from thefirst version of the audio video program; and coupling, by theprocessor, the modified audio video program to a display andloudspeaker.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alternative characterface is computer generated in response to a user input indicative of acharacteristic of an alternative character name.
 3. The method of claim1 wherein the request to substitute an original character face withinthe audio video program with the alternative character face is generatedin response to a user request generated via a user interface.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the occurrence of the original character faceis detected in response to a facial recognition algorithm.
 5. The methodof claim 1 wherein the request to substitute an original character facewithin the audio video program with the alternative character face isgenerated in response to a user selection of the original character faceand the alternative character face via a graphical user interfacepresented on a display.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting theoccurrence of the original character face further includes determining aprogram time location corresponding to the occurrence of the originalcharacter face in the audio video program and where the program timelocation is used to replace the original character face in the delayedaudio video program with the alternate character face.
 7. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the request to substitute the original character facewithin the audio video program with the alternative character face isreceived in response to a user selection in a graphical user interfacedisplayed on the display.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image ofthe alternate character face is captured by a camera in response to therequest to substitute the original character face within the audio videoprogram with the alternative character face.
 9. An apparatus comprising:an input configured for receiving a first version of an audio videoprogram and a second version of the audio video program; a displaydevice configured to display a video portion of the first version of theaudio video program and a modified audio video program; a buffer forgenerating a delayed audio video program in response the audio videoprogram; and a processor operative to: receive a request to substitutean original character image in the first version of the audio videoprogram with an alternative character image, wherein the requestincludes a selection identifying the alternative character image from aplurality of alternative character images presented in a graphical userinterface, request from a service provider the second version of theaudio video program wherein the second version is time delayed from thefirst version of the audio video program, wherein the second version ofthe audio video program is received simultaneously with the firstversion of the audio video program, receive from the service provider,the second version of the audio video program, detect an occurrence ofthe original character image within the first version of the audio videoprogram, wherein the occurrence of the original character image isdetermined over multiple image frames of the audio video program using askin texture analysis to recognize at least one of a pattern, a line anda spot on the original character face, replace the original characterimage in the second version of the audio video program with thealternative character image to generate the modified audio video programin response to detecting the original character image within the firstversion of the audio video program, and couple the modified audio videoprogram to the display device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 furtherincluding a network interface for receiving a metadata associated withthe audio video program.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the bufferis a memory configured to store a portion of the audio video program.12. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a user input forreceiving a user indication of the original character image and analternative character image.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein theprocessor is further operative to generate a graphical user interfacefor presenting a first character image and a second character imageassociated with the audio video program and an input for receiving analternate character input in response to a user input.
 14. The apparatusof claim 9 further including a camera for capturing the alternativecharacter image.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor isconfigured to detect the occurrence of the original character image inresponse to a facial recognition operation on the audio video program.16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the audio video program furtherincludes metadata related to a character associated with the audio videoprogram and wherein the processor is configured to detect the occurrenceof the original character image in response to the metadata associatedwith the audio video program.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein thealternative character image is an image of a user captured by a camerain response to a user input.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein thealternate character image is one of the plurality of alternativecharacter images stored in a memory and wherein the alternate characterimage is selected from the plurality of images in response to a userinput.
 19. An apparatus for interactive reassignment of character facesin an audio video program comprising: a tuner configured for receivingand demodulating a signal to extract the audio video program and asecond version of the audio video program; a user input operative toreceive a user request to substitute an original character face withinthe audio video program with an alternative character face, wherein therequest includes a selection identifying the alternative character facefrom a plurality of alternative character faces; a memory configured tobuffer the audio video program to generate a delayed audio videoprogram; a processor configured to: request from a service provider thesecond version of the audio video program in response to the userrequest, wherein the second version is time delayed from the audio videoprogram, wherein the second version of the audio video program isreceived simultaneously with the audio video program, receive, from theservice provider, the second version of the audio video program, detectthe original character face within the audio video program, wherein theoriginal character face is detected over multiple image frames of theaudio video stream using a skin texture analysis to recognize at leastone of a pattern, a line and a spot on the original character face, andreplace the original character face with the alternative character facewithin the second version of the audio video program to generate amodified audio video program; and a display configured to display themodified audio video program.
 20. The apparatus for interactivereassignment of character faces in an audio video program of claim 19wherein the processor is further operative to detect the originalcharacter face in response to a facial recognition process performed onthe audio video program.